Today’s Forecast

77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.

Make Lakeland your gallery

30+ murals around Lakeland

A panoramic shot of a colorful mural featuring orange astronauts in a whimsical scene on the outside of a building.

Look for these AstroKnights when driving north on South Florida Avenue. | Photo by Tom Hagerty

We all know that Swan City has a vibrant art scene — and we’re not just talking about the Polk Museum of Art. One of our all-time favorite galleries? Lakeland itself.

Lakeland is home to a number of meaningful murals and street art pieces. Today, we’re sharing where to find pieces that really paint a picture of our city.

AstroKnights, 844 S. Florida Ave. | By C. Stanley
You don’t have to dive underwater to find this treasure. Look for this Dixieland art piece on the side of South Florida Gun and Pawn.

L’Hermione, 3825 S. Florida Ave. | By Tim Haas
Maria Mahoney of The Mahoney Group commissioned this mural as a gift to the City of Lakeland. According to Maria, it honors the friendship between the French and American colonies in 1780. Marquis de Lafayette sailed the Hermione — equipped with money, arms, and soldiers — to aid colonists.

A 70-ft mural with a colorful, technological design — Can you spot the artist’s name hidden in the mural’s design?
|
Photo by LALtoday

Exploring Innovation, 235 N. Kentucky Ave. | By James Hicks
According to the artist, this 70-ft mural outside Mitchell’s Coffee House is inspired by humanity’s relationship with technology. Grab a coffee and spend a few minutes taking it all in — James’ name is even hidden in its complex design.

Flights of Fancy, 901 Florida Ave. S. | By Tim Haas
Wanting to take a vacay but short on dough? Don’t fret. This mural at Southside Cleaners will transport you to another realm. “Flights of Fancy” by artist Tim Haas features a steampunk ocean and moonscape scene complete with whales, a spinning nebula, and an airship.

A green mural with various fruits and the word "Cultivate" overlooks patio tables — We’re cultivating our lunch plans just looking at this mural.
|
Photo by @catapultlkld

Cultivate, 502 E. Main St. | By Maegan Carroll
You can find this mural on the other side of Catapult, out on the patio. It’s sure to work up your appetite while you enjoy a pop-up meal from a Catapult kitchen member and cultivate your professional network.

19 more murals around town

Asked

How often do you attend local art galleries, museums, or art events?

A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. 3-4 times per year
D. 1-2 times per year

We galle-really want to know

Events

Friday, April 28

Spring Pop-Up Series: Dominick’s | Friday, Apr. 28 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Don’t miss lunch on the Catapult patio with meatball pocket subs, chicken parm sandwiches, and more Italian fare.*
Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Palm Beach Cardinals | Friday, Apr. 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland | $7-$50 | The first 300 fans at this game will receive a grab bag giveaway item from the Flying Tigers.
Harrison School for the Arts Spring Jazz Concert | Friday, Apr. 28 | 7-9 p.m. | Harrison School For the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Rd., Lakeland | $9-$12 | Hear jazz standards spanning four decades of musical history, including hits like “Round Midnight,” “Spain,” “How High the Moon,” and others.

Saturday, April 29

2023 March of Dimes: March for Babies | Saturday, Apr. 29 | 8-11 a.m. | Lawn of First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | Free | Walk around Lake Hollingsworth to raise money for mother and baby health.
First Light Yoga at Hollis Garden | Saturday, Apr. 29 | 8:30-10 a.m. | Hollis Garden, 702 E. Orange St., Lakeland | Free | Get your morning flow on with an outdoor yoga class led by Yoga Pointe.
International Tai Chi Day Celebration | Saturday, Apr. 29 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Satya Life, 112 E. Pine St., Lakeland | $25 | Celebrate Tai Chi Day with a workshop to learn movement, breath work, and self-healing forms.
Keel Farms Blueberry Festival | Saturday, Apr. 29 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | Try unique food and drink, pick blueberries, and pet farm animals at this family-friendly festival.

Sunday, April 30

Sunday Funday & Mimosa Bar! | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 12-7 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | $1 | Pour your own mimosas with prosecco on tap for $1 per ounce and free mixers.
Family Class — Glowing Jellyfish | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $29 | Bring the family to paint this glowing neon dancer of the sea.
Heritage Fire Tampa | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 4:45-7 p.m. | Tabellas at Delaney Creek, 5818 Causeway Blvd., Tampa | $125-$175 | Taste the best of Tampa with all-inclusive cocktails, spirits, wine, and dishes from 20+ local chefs at America’s premier live-fire culinary event and competition.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Giveaway

Good news for locals

Did you know you have until next Monday to share good, local news with your neighbors on Nextdoor and be entered for a chance to win $500 in cold hard cash?

The road to possibly winning the cash is simple:

At the top of all of our articles, there are buttons to easily share stories, and we’ve recently added a button to share on Nextdoor.
After clicking the icon, you’ll either log in or create a new Nextdoor account.
Create a post using your favorite LALtoday article with a caption for your community.
Once you are happy with your post, click “POST” and you will be entered to win $500 automatically.
Respond with likes + comments
You can share as many articles as you’d like, just as long as you believe they will benefit your neighborhood!

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 10 in our newsletter and social channels. There’s no limit on the number of entries for the contest. The selected winner will be someone who shares a story that receives a lot of engagement (likes, comments, and shares) on Nextdoor.

Read full eligibility and giveaway terms here.

Get started

News Notes

Number

1.2 million. That’s Polk County’s expected population in 2050. In a recent community forum, the Polk Transportation Organization’s director offered strategies for reducing traffic and making roads safer: Connecting downtown Lakeland and Bartow via Citrus Connection, alleviating South Florida Avenue traffic, and extending SunRail to Lakeland. (LkldNow)

Try This

Tonight is the 16th annual Swan Derby, a fundraiser for Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine. Head to the Lake Mirror Promenade from 5:30-9 p.m. in your derby best to watch paddleboat races, buy raffle tickets, and enjoy live entertainment before a fireworks show at 9 p.m. (The Ledger)

Cause

The March of Dimes’ March for Babies will take place tomorrow, April 29 at 8 a.m. around Lake Hollingsworth. This year’s Ambassador Family for Polk County are Brandon, Fabiane, and Logan Bodine. March of Dimes helped the Bodines after Logan was born prematurely — he’s now a healthy 11-year-old. (Fox 13 News)

Edu

Southeastern University will kick off spring commencement events tonight at the RP Funding Center. With 940+ students graduating, expect increased traffic in the area tonight. Pro tip: Don’t forget our brunch guide if you’re celebrating a grad. (The Ledger)

Legacy

James “JP” Powell, a longtime Winter Haven city commissioner and former mayor, died on Monday, April 24 after battling cancer. A special election will be held in November to find a replacement to serve the rest of Commissioner Powell’s term. (The Ledger)

Biz

Velázquez Cigar Company (812 E. Main St.) is celebrating two years in business with a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Stop by Friday, May 5 from 5-9 p.m. for live music, cigars, margaritas, and food from La Imperial Bakery.

Show

Tickets are now on sale for “Mughal-e-Azam,” an Indian musical coming to the RP Funding Center from June 16-18. See this Broadway-style production based on a 1960 film, which tells a story of love through Indian dance.

Holiday

Upgrade your macaroni necklace to a piece of art mom will really love. Walk into Picassoz (4636 Cleveland Heights Blvd.) to paint a pottery piece by Saturday, May 6 to have it done in time for Mother’s Day gifting. See walk-in hours here.

Deal

Busch Gardens and SeaWorld are honoring Military Appreciation Month by giving free admission to military members and their families through the Waves of Honor program. Veterans and three guests can get complimentary one-day tickets through July 9, and active-duty military and guests can get in free once per year. (WTSP)

Environment

Curious where your seafood comes from? We took a deep dive in Publix GreenWise Market’s seafood sustainability practices — and discovered it’s worth getting reel-y excited about. See how seafood sustainability is good for you + for the environment.*

Community

Have you seen the tables on Catapult’s patio? They were built by Maker Space member Robert Berganza, a woodworker + furniture maker who got his start at Catapult. Learn more about the Maker Space (and meet some members).*

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Drink

Ditch the hangover without having to ditch your favorite cocktail with Ritual Zero Proof Spirits. The award-winning brand makes non-alcoholic rum, tequila, gin, and whiskey so you can enjoy the ritual of having a drink without feeling icky the following day. Psst — check out Ritual’s collection of cocktail recipes.

Community

A new resource for new Lakelanders

Introducing: New to Lakeland

Lake-Mirror---BeFly-Bike-Tours---biking-Lake-Mirror-2.jpg

Lake Mirror is one of the many lakes residents + visitors can take a ride around. | Photo by BeFly Bike Tours

You probably already know that Lakeland is one of the country’s fastest-growing cities. It’s a community with historic roots, but it’s also evolving to anticipate the needs of our growing number of residents.

The team that brings you LALtoday has put together New to Lakeland, the ultimate guide to help those who may be asking, “Why Lakeland?” If you’re interviewing for a job here, searching for a local place to live, or you’re already here and want to learn more about your community or recruit someone else to make Lakeland home, this guide is meant for you.

The first installment in the New to Lakeland series will hit your inbox this Sunday, April 30. Keep an eye out for our guides to making the most of life in Lakeland. Until then, answer our survey with the one thing you would tell newcomers — we may share your tips in upcoming newsletters.

Shoutout

Happy birthday, LALtoday member April W. We hope your special day (April 30) is filled with all of your favorite things in Lakeland! — LALtoday team

Your voice is valuable, and so are the special moments in your life. Shoutouts allow us to celebrate job promotions, anniversaries, and exciting experiences right here in Lakeland. Become a LALtoday member today to reserve your shoutout and celebrate with tens of thousands of locals.

Become a member, get benefits

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

As the great *NSYNC once said, “It’s gonna be May.” Start planning out your schedule for next month with our community events calendar, which is packed with local things to do. Don’t forget, if you’re hosting an event, we’d love for you to submit it to the calendar.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Find the perfect gift for mom with our online storefront, Six & Main.

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY